For many people, the #Linux vs #Windows vs #Mac debate is a privilege — it assumes you can choose.
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For many people, the #Linux vs #Windows vs #Mac debate is a privilege — it assumes you can choose. But working with the Computer Upcycle Project, I've seen the real choice is often Linux vs no computer at all.
~95% of donated computers are "too old" for Windows 11 or macOS. Linux installs on them anyway, adding 10+ years of life to machines #Microsoft and #Apple called trash.
This isn't Linux vs Windows. It's Linux vs e-waste.
@codemonkeymike There's another angle on this too, for a number of people with disabilities this same "it's not really a choice" idea applies, but with macOS being the thing. Because while Windows has some assistive tech, Linux has very little, and what is there isn''t installed by default or easy to set up and use. This particularly sucks in situations like this where Linux is being looked at as the primary OS for these older systems.
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@codemonkeymike Exactly this! I have 6 old laptops converted to Linux Mint right now sitting here waiting to go to a local organisation that helps young single mums with no resources of their own.
Not only is Linux helping prevent e-waste, it's providing secure, powerful and free access to the digital world to people who otherwise would not have any (except maybe a crappy phone).@98Percent @codemonkeymike where are you based? (how) can we send donations?
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For many people, the #Linux vs #Windows vs #Mac debate is a privilege — it assumes you can choose. But working with the Computer Upcycle Project, I've seen the real choice is often Linux vs no computer at all.
~95% of donated computers are "too old" for Windows 11 or macOS. Linux installs on them anyway, adding 10+ years of life to machines #Microsoft and #Apple called trash.
This isn't Linux vs Windows. It's Linux vs e-waste.
@codemonkeymike Our 2012 Latitude has been running Debian/Xfce contentedly for most of a decade now, once Windows got too bloated for it.
After last year's HDD -> SSD upgrade it's nice and mostly-snappy, and I figure it'll chug along usefully for at *least* five more years.
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@codemonkeymike Exactly this! I have 6 old laptops converted to Linux Mint right now sitting here waiting to go to a local organisation that helps young single mums with no resources of their own.
Not only is Linux helping prevent e-waste, it's providing secure, powerful and free access to the digital world to people who otherwise would not have any (except maybe a crappy phone).@98Percent @codemonkeymike Same! Half a dozen old MacBook Pros updated with Ubuntu, new SSDs, new batteries ready to get out the door for people who need them.
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For many people, the #Linux vs #Windows vs #Mac debate is a privilege — it assumes you can choose. But working with the Computer Upcycle Project, I've seen the real choice is often Linux vs no computer at all.
~95% of donated computers are "too old" for Windows 11 or macOS. Linux installs on them anyway, adding 10+ years of life to machines #Microsoft and #Apple called trash.
This isn't Linux vs Windows. It's Linux vs e-waste.
@codemonkeymike I’ve got an unsupported MacBook Air and an even older MacBook Pro that I have running Debian 13; works great on them. Now if only we could get phones to open up a bit, I could do something with an old iPhone 11 Pro and LG Stylo 6 I’ve got
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For many people, the #Linux vs #Windows vs #Mac debate is a privilege — it assumes you can choose. But working with the Computer Upcycle Project, I've seen the real choice is often Linux vs no computer at all.
~95% of donated computers are "too old" for Windows 11 or macOS. Linux installs on them anyway, adding 10+ years of life to machines #Microsoft and #Apple called trash.
This isn't Linux vs Windows. It's Linux vs e-waste.
@codemonkeymike Well, WinXP probably installs fine on all of them and there are enough free licenses or circumventions available. Now it depends a lot on what you want to do with it. If you want to run older games offline, then that's maybe even a usable choice. If you want to do online banking and Internet browsing, well, don't do that with an OS out of support.
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@codemonkeymike Well, WinXP probably installs fine on all of them and there are enough free licenses or circumventions available. Now it depends a lot on what you want to do with it. If you want to run older games offline, then that's maybe even a usable choice. If you want to do online banking and Internet browsing, well, don't do that with an OS out of support.
@http ehh yeah. This isn't computers for shits and giggles to play commander keen. I'm trying to get people useful computers for school, work, etc. Win XP ain't cutting it?
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@codemonkeymike There's another angle on this too, for a number of people with disabilities this same "it's not really a choice" idea applies, but with macOS being the thing. Because while Windows has some assistive tech, Linux has very little, and what is there isn''t installed by default or easy to set up and use. This particularly sucks in situations like this where Linux is being looked at as the primary OS for these older systems.
@xoagray yup I agree. Again. I'm a huge believer in the right tool for the job. Sometimes it's MacOS, sometimes it's Windows and sometimes it's Linux.
My thesis here is that Linux is never even considered for most people when it very well might be the right tool.
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@codemonkeymike Our 2012 Latitude has been running Debian/Xfce contentedly for most of a decade now, once Windows got too bloated for it.
After last year's HDD -> SSD upgrade it's nice and mostly-snappy, and I figure it'll chug along usefully for at *least* five more years.
@btskinn this is the way!
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@98Percent @codemonkeymike where are you based? (how) can we send donations?
@mdione @98Percent were based in Olympia, WA In the US.
Check out our site. You can donate there or if you meant donating hardware, happy to talk about that too! (And our address is on the site too)
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@xoagray yup I agree. Again. I'm a huge believer in the right tool for the job. Sometimes it's MacOS, sometimes it's Windows and sometimes it's Linux.
My thesis here is that Linux is never even considered for most people when it very well might be the right tool.
@codemonkeymike That's definitely true. I've had people literally scream at me and / or burst into tears at just the thought of switching off windows. Even if they're only using their computer for browsing, email, the kind of stuff where it literally doesn't matter what OS you use. (context, I used to repair and build PC's for people and small businesses for years.)
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@http ehh yeah. This isn't computers for shits and giggles to play commander keen. I'm trying to get people useful computers for school, work, etc. Win XP ain't cutting it?
@codemonkeymike I was thinking about people in very poor countries trying to get used to (offline) computers, or children there playing older games. But yes, for anything like work or school, Linux is probably the best choice.
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